PONANT appoints Bruised Passports as brand ambassadors

PONANT, the French luxury cruise line, has appointed Bruised Passports as its first-ever Brand Ambassadors in Asia. Bruised Passports is a travel blog and photography duo founded by Savi and Vid, two Indian travel enthusiasts who have been documenting their adventures around the world since 2013.

Savi and Vid are known for their inspiring stories and stunning photographs, which have captured the hearts of millions of travellers around the world. They are also passionate about promoting responsible travel and sustainable tourism.

As PONANT’s Brand Ambassadors, Savi and Vid will be sharing their love of travel with PONANT’s customers through a series of blog posts, social media content, and live events. They will also be working with PONANT to develop new itineraries and experiences that appeal to Indian travellers.

The appointment of Bruised Passports as Brand Ambassadors is part of PONANT’s ongoing commitment to the Indian market. PONANT recently launched its first-ever India office in Mumbai, and it is planning to increase its presence in India in the coming years.

You have associations with other Iconic brands such as Cadbury Chocolates and Lancôme, why PONANT?

We are extremely selective about the brands we choose to work with because we want to be able to recommend them wholeheartedly to our readers, who are like family to us! However, representing Ponant as ambassadors was a no-brainer for us! This is because we have personally experienced Ponant’s hospitality as customers over the past few years and have recommended them to friends and family alike! Ponant is the perfect fit for us as Bruised Passports is all about experiential luxury – and that is something Ponant excels at! Their combination of unique destinations, bespoke luxury, and intimate vessels, equipped to a high spec is truly unparalleled!

PONANT is the only French Cruise line in the world, do you work with other French brands?

Yes- in fact there is a running joke in our family that we must have been French in a past lifetime. France is one of our most frequently visited countries and we are truly obsessed with studying French wine and culinary practices. This obsession has seeped into our work. We love exploring synergies with French brands and proudly share long-standing relationships with French brands such as  Lancôme, Kérastase, and Grey Goose and also tourism boards of regions such as Burgundy, Paris, Nantes, Reims, and Dijon.

What was your most memorable moment of exploring The Arctic with PONANT?

There were too many to count but as a wildlife enthusiast and photographer, the feeling of seeing polar bears and beluga whales up close in the wild is truly second to none.

You have travelled on Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only Luxury Ice Breaker, how was that experience?

Le Commandant Charcot is a truly modern but surprisingly intimate vessel- and that is why we enjoyed the experience so much! Every passenger is given personalised attention and I cannot say enough good things about the staff. Everyone from the housekeeping staff to the sommelier to the expedition guides to the Scientists went above and beyond for every single guest on board.

It is an ice-class vessel, meaning it can go to places most others can’t. This ensured we saw things we couldn’t even dream of, such as penguin colonies with more than 10,000 Emperor penguins. Surreal does not even begin to describe the experience – it is humbling and insightful all at once.

Did you have wildlife encounters in Antarctica?

Landings in Antarctica are heavily dependent on weather conditions and wind conditions, so it was hard to predict what we would see there. But the sights we saw left us completely smitten! We saw more wildlife than we ever expected. Some highlights included penguins on glaciers, ice sculptures, and floating icebergs. Seals in their natural habitat, polar Birds in their natural habitat, and killer Whales in their natural habitat. Seeing Adélie, Chinstrap, and Emperor penguins in their natural habitat is truly an experience like no other.

How do you pack for Polar Exploration – any tips you can share to keep under the weight limit but prevent from freezing?

Packing for Polar Explorations sounds intimidating but it is made much easier by the fact that Ponant provides complimentary Arctic Parkas and snow boots for all excursions on board.  PONANT also provides you with a checklist for your Polar Shore Excursions.

Other items we recommend are a good mix of smart casual outfits for days, 1-2 formal outfits for Captain’s Cocktail evenings, comfortable shoes, and woollen thermals and accessories. We would also recommend carrying a good book or your favourite playlist(s) for days at sea.

What brought you to this life as ‘Professional Explorers’?

Our love affair with the world goes back a long way – When Savi and I were dating, we decided to take a short trip together to Malaysia. As they say, the rest is history. We fell in love with the idea of seeing the world, learning about cultures, and making friends across the world. So we made a pact that we would travel to a new place every month. We’ve stuck to that pact ever since! From saving our pocket money & our salaries to travel to making travel a full-time profession, it’s been a roller coaster ride

We’ve been travelling together for almost 15 years and I can safely say it has brought us closer in so many different ways. I truly think the cliché ” Couples that travel together stay together” is somewhat true because travelling to new places, out of one’s comfort zone, can often be a sensory overload of sorts. The good things – Trying new foods, meeting new people etc also come with the bad ones – falling sick in a strange place, getting lost etc. But sharing these new experiences with someone familiar heightens the pleasure involved in the act of exploring the world in our case. And it has definitely brought us closer.

If we had to sum it up, we would say Travel is like meditation for us. It has taught us to live outside our comfort zones and educated us in a way nothing else ever could and made us realise human emotions are the same the world over. The simple act of travelling and meeting new people has made us question so many of the stereotypes and biases rampant in society. It truly is a thrill like no other.

Where is the next destination on your Wanderlist?

The list is endless but we definitely want to explore more of French Polynesia and South America this year – the mix of culture and scenic panoramas offered by these destinations excite us to no end.

What are your thoughts on Sustainable Travel?

Of course, travelling responsibly is important everywhere in the world, but it is especially important in remote Polar regions. We had the fortune of being on a Ponant Polar Odyssey that had a lot of scientists, naturalists, and researchers. They are deeply involved with important research work and preservation efforts. PONANT is also dedicated to educating passengers to not just be responsible for the length of the voyage, but in their lives thereafter.  We must all work together to protect this beautiful planet we are privileged to explore.

You can watch The Bruised Passports Arctic Adventure with PONANT

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